Mike Hallenbeck (Cool Cat Audio)
@coolcataudio.bsky.social
Sound + music for media. Sound edit/ design, audio restoration, VO, custom music, ADR + final mix for arts and commerce. Mix engineering + mastering for composers, songwriters, and more. Posts by (bald) studio head Mike Hallenbeck. coolcataudio.com
Once again, Cool Cat Audio finds itself exploring the sonic world of popcorn– this time for a documentary. Here’s the recent setup for a Foley session, to capture the elusive presence of popcorn flakes striking each other lightly as they fly around. (more)
October 30, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Once again, Cool Cat Audio finds itself exploring the sonic world of popcorn– this time for a documentary. Here’s the recent setup for a Foley session, to capture the elusive presence of popcorn flakes striking each other lightly as they fly around. (more)
Back in the studio at Cool Cat Audio, tracking some sounds for Rhinannon’s next Mama Faerie project. Photo by the artist. <more>
October 22, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Back in the studio at Cool Cat Audio, tracking some sounds for Rhinannon’s next Mama Faerie project. Photo by the artist. <more>
Thanks to Hellavision Television for an enjoyable viewing of “Web 5000.0” at The Main Cinema in Minneapolis last night. This anthology of #animation about the future of the Internet is hilarious, innovative, insightful, bewildering, terrifying, and plenty more besides.
October 16, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Thanks to Hellavision Television for an enjoyable viewing of “Web 5000.0” at The Main Cinema in Minneapolis last night. This anthology of #animation about the future of the Internet is hilarious, innovative, insightful, bewildering, terrifying, and plenty more besides.
Tonight in Minneapolis! Hellavision Television’s “Web 5000.0” arrives in Minneapolis at The Main Cinema on Wed October 15th at 7pm. Enjoy the final moments of the internet through the lens of over 80 artists in this 90 minute maximalist anthology directed by Sishir Bommakanti. <more>
October 15, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Tonight in Minneapolis! Hellavision Television’s “Web 5000.0” arrives in Minneapolis at The Main Cinema on Wed October 15th at 7pm. Enjoy the final moments of the internet through the lens of over 80 artists in this 90 minute maximalist anthology directed by Sishir Bommakanti. <more>
New dates unlocked for Hellavision Television’s “Web 5000.0” tour! The animation anthology screens in Minneapolis on Wednesday October 15th, 7 pm at The Main Cinema-- ticket link in comments... <more>
October 10, 2025 at 1:44 PM
New dates unlocked for Hellavision Television’s “Web 5000.0” tour! The animation anthology screens in Minneapolis on Wednesday October 15th, 7 pm at The Main Cinema-- ticket link in comments... <more>
Do I know anyone in Santa Cruz? I doubt it. But if I’m mistaken, be advised that Natalie Peracchio’s new short film “The Story of the Cricket Queen”, featuring original music, sound design and mix by yours truly, screens this coming Thursday and Friday... <more>
October 8, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Do I know anyone in Santa Cruz? I doubt it. But if I’m mistaken, be advised that Natalie Peracchio’s new short film “The Story of the Cricket Queen”, featuring original music, sound design and mix by yours truly, screens this coming Thursday and Friday... <more>
I recently collaborated with animator Sishir Bommakanti and voice artist Sudarsna Mukund on the intro to Hellavision Television’s “Web 5000”, an ongoing community animation project that explores “the Maximal Speculative Future of The Internet”. <more>
September 30, 2025 at 2:06 PM
I recently collaborated with animator Sishir Bommakanti and voice artist Sudarsna Mukund on the intro to Hellavision Television’s “Web 5000”, an ongoing community animation project that explores “the Maximal Speculative Future of The Internet”. <more>
Celebrating the conclusion of another Sound Design for Film class at Film North. As an educator, I like to proceed from the principle that we learn not by absorbing new information, but... <more>
September 18, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Celebrating the conclusion of another Sound Design for Film class at Film North. As an educator, I like to proceed from the principle that we learn not by absorbing new information, but... <more>
If you find yourself watching the Disney+ documentary “Meet the Pickles”, about the making of the animated series “Win or Lose”, 12 minutes in or so (during the video game montage) you’ll hear some music by yours truly!
September 3, 2025 at 12:51 PM
If you find yourself watching the Disney+ documentary “Meet the Pickles”, about the making of the animated series “Win or Lose”, 12 minutes in or so (during the video game montage) you’ll hear some music by yours truly!
If you’re at the MN State Fair this year, you may hear the sound design of Cool Cat Audio when you peruse this DNR installation on fire safety. I engineered voiceover, edited interview audio, implemented sound effects... <more>
August 27, 2025 at 2:04 PM
If you’re at the MN State Fair this year, you may hear the sound design of Cool Cat Audio when you peruse this DNR installation on fire safety. I engineered voiceover, edited interview audio, implemented sound effects... <more>
Some BTS footage in the studio of voiceover recording for an upcoming #animation project by Sishir Bommakanti. On the mic is performer Sudarsna Mukund. Also visible: my bald head.
August 19, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Some BTS footage in the studio of voiceover recording for an upcoming #animation project by Sishir Bommakanti. On the mic is performer Sudarsna Mukund. Also visible: my bald head.
I’m pleased to announce that John Akre’s animated short “Let’s Count To Six, Shall We?”, featuring an original score and mix by yours truly over at Cool Cat Audio, is now available online for public viewing! Link in comments.
August 7, 2025 at 3:06 PM
I’m pleased to announce that John Akre’s animated short “Let’s Count To Six, Shall We?”, featuring an original score and mix by yours truly over at Cool Cat Audio, is now available online for public viewing! Link in comments.
Congrats to Frances Chewning, whose short comedy “The Pic” (written and directed by, and starring, her!) will premiere at HollyShorts in Los Angeles this August. Featuring audio post production by Cool Cat Audio, the film will screen on Sunday, August 10th at 2:30 PM in the "rom-com" block. <more>
July 30, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Congrats to Frances Chewning, whose short comedy “The Pic” (written and directed by, and starring, her!) will premiere at HollyShorts in Los Angeles this August. Featuring audio post production by Cool Cat Audio, the film will screen on Sunday, August 10th at 2:30 PM in the "rom-com" block. <more>
Working on a new client project. My mission: engineer and produce a sea chanty track to spec. It’s been a long time, but this is in fact my return to the sea chanty genre as opposed to, shall we say, my maiden voyage. <more>
July 24, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Working on a new client project. My mission: engineer and produce a sea chanty track to spec. It’s been a long time, but this is in fact my return to the sea chanty genre as opposed to, shall we say, my maiden voyage. <more>
Cool Cat Audio recently executed voiceover engineering for a marketing video by WPS Health Solutions. It’s currently viewable at wpshealthsolutions.com. Thanks to creative director Kris Dunlap for this opportunity!
#marketingvideo #brandingvideo #marketing #branding #voiceoverengineering
#marketingvideo #brandingvideo #marketing #branding #voiceoverengineering
July 16, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Cool Cat Audio recently executed voiceover engineering for a marketing video by WPS Health Solutions. It’s currently viewable at wpshealthsolutions.com. Thanks to creative director Kris Dunlap for this opportunity!
#marketingvideo #brandingvideo #marketing #branding #voiceoverengineering
#marketingvideo #brandingvideo #marketing #branding #voiceoverengineering
There's an unassuming, partially boarded up business on University Ave in St Paul called Nanosystems. Not gonna look it up, so my speculation can proceed unimpeded.
June 28, 2025 at 2:49 AM
There's an unassuming, partially boarded up business on University Ave in St Paul called Nanosystems. Not gonna look it up, so my speculation can proceed unimpeded.
Recently I’ve been designing sound for @skewedcharles.bsky.social’s theatrical presentation “Making Monsters”. The process has offered many welcome opportunities to explore the human voice as a building block for audio montage and musical notation.
May 28, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Recently I’ve been designing sound for @skewedcharles.bsky.social’s theatrical presentation “Making Monsters”. The process has offered many welcome opportunities to explore the human voice as a building block for audio montage and musical notation.
Thanks to Film North for hosting my recently-wrapped Sound Design for Film class, and thanks to the students for bringing it alive with robust discussions! <more>
May 21, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Thanks to Film North for hosting my recently-wrapped Sound Design for Film class, and thanks to the students for bringing it alive with robust discussions! <more>
April 10, 2025 at 3:39 PM
“Fighting Sleep”, directed by Kevin Obsatz and featuring an original score by Mike Hallenbeck, premiered at the Antimatter Media Art festival and has screened at New Jersey International Film Fest’s Super 8 Film & Digital Video Festival.
Congrats to the filmmakers on all this recognition!
Congrats to the filmmakers on all this recognition!
March 26, 2025 at 3:01 PM
“Fighting Sleep”, directed by Kevin Obsatz and featuring an original score by Mike Hallenbeck, premiered at the Antimatter Media Art festival and has screened at New Jersey International Film Fest’s Super 8 Film & Digital Video Festival.
Congrats to the filmmakers on all this recognition!
Congrats to the filmmakers on all this recognition!
“Le Cosmos”, directed by Natalie Peracchio and featuring an original score, sound design and mix by Mike Hallenbeck, has been selected to screen at Atlanta Film Festival, Bridge Video Chicago, <more>
March 26, 2025 at 3:01 PM
“Le Cosmos”, directed by Natalie Peracchio and featuring an original score, sound design and mix by Mike Hallenbeck, has been selected to screen at Atlanta Film Festival, Bridge Video Chicago, <more>
“The Glasses”, co-directed by Frances Chewning and Sarah Smith w/ audio post by Cool Cat Audio, has screened at Palm Springs ShortFest, HollyShorts, LA Shorts, Big Apple Film Festival, <more>
March 26, 2025 at 3:01 PM
“The Glasses”, co-directed by Frances Chewning and Sarah Smith w/ audio post by Cool Cat Audio, has screened at Palm Springs ShortFest, HollyShorts, LA Shorts, Big Apple Film Festival, <more>
“Let’s Count to Six, Shall We?”, animated by John Akre and featuring an original score by Mike Hallenbeck, screens as part of the Ann Arbor Film Festival this Saturday March 29th at 1:30 PM, and is also roaming as part of the Square Lake Festival’s Traveling Showcase program.
March 26, 2025 at 3:01 PM
“Let’s Count to Six, Shall We?”, animated by John Akre and featuring an original score by Mike Hallenbeck, screens as part of the Ann Arbor Film Festival this Saturday March 29th at 1:30 PM, and is also roaming as part of the Square Lake Festival’s Traveling Showcase program.